What the Flex?
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by Serena Woodard | Reporter
The infamous coronavirus left several schools and
universities dependent on online classes after they closed
doors. Now, colleges are implementing Flex, a program
that empowers student choice and may even change the
future of education.
The coronavirus pandemic, also known as COVID-19,
forced doors shut across the world earlier this year. Small
business owners, athletes and employees everywhere
were deeply affected by the spread of the notorious virus.
It cost many Americans more than they were able to give.
This virus also caused various education outlets to close
and lose valuable time with students.
Rose State College chose to finish the semester online
with limited entry to campus for students who could not
access the proper technology elsewhere. All summer classes
were also moved online. As students were facing their own
difficulty navigating classes online, Rose State faculty was
challenged to create a design for the upcoming school year.
“We did know we needed a solution for this semester
that allowed an easy transition to [move entirely] online
if needed,” said Dr. Dana Lindon-Burgett, who holds a
doctorate in educational psychology and serves as the
Dean of E-Learning and Academic Outreach at Rose State
College.
After careful thought and challenging conversation,
Craig Dawkins, associate dean of the Business Information
Technology Division, decided to pilot the design of Flex
classes for Rose State College. He thinks even without the
coronavirus, that the college was heading in the direction
toward Flex classes.
“In January, for an entirely different reason, we were
already in academic counsel before the COVID crisis hit,”
Dawkins said. “The thought occurred to me that if we had
some sort of flex class that allowed students to continue
the course and finish remotely or via online it would
mainly be reapproaching the classes to fix them into a
flexible modality.”
The idea of Flex courses was first approached by San
photo by Ashley Newsom
Francisco State University years ago. At the time, they
were called “HyFlex” classes, an acronym for “hybrid
flexible.” Students enrolled in HyFlex courses were able to
choose whether they wanted to attend class in person or
virtually. The classes could include both traditional and
online learning activities.
Now redesigned by the Rose State faculty and staff, Flex
courses are completely about student choice. There are
two Flex categories.
Regular Flex courses do not require students to be
present for any of the lectures. However, if they choose to
attend, they can do so remotely (online) or in person.
Synchronized Flex courses require students to be
present for lecture. The student can choose to attend in
person or virtually.
Although a student never has to physically enter a Flex
course’s classroom, the lessons are still much more than
interactive television.
“We worked on developing a definition for this modality,”
said Travis Hurst, associate vice president of Academic Affairs
at Rose State College. “And how we would inform students of
these offerings.”
Raiders jumped at the chance to have freedom and
flexibility in their college courses. Now, if students need to
leave the area for some time, they are still able to complete
work and receive class credit.
A Rose State College President’s Leadership Class
student is using Flex classes to her advantage.
“I am getting the chance to live in London, England
this semester while still taking classes online, and I am so
grateful,” said Maci Terry.
Rose State College is offering 325 designated Flex
courses with over 5,500 enrollments.
There is no current data to show how many students are
utilizing the classroom versus strictly learning through the
web.
However, after the fall semester began, it was clear that
many students were choosing to social distance and learn
from home. Online course enrollment alone rose 26%
compared to the 2019 fall semester.
The advantages Flex courses offer have not been taken
for granted. Although the program is still young, faculty
can already see the positive feedback.
“This [Flex courses] will be a continued offering,”
Lindon-Burgett said. An average price for Flex courses
has not yet been implemented and are being priced the
same as face-to-face classes.
Rose State College was thrown a curve ball earlier this
year, but the people of Rose did not back down. Rose
State’s faculty stayed hard at work to improve the access
to education for all students. Now, there is a new program
that empowers student choice and change.